The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-04
THE JULLABAD TRAGEDY.
THE CATASTROPHE.


deputy commissioner OF the district OF
Jullabad. This was his second marriage,
and his former wife was not year dead.
The man was nearer to fifty years OF age
than 10 forty, and hard drinking and the
nnrestrained indulgence OF violent pas
sions had left their dire stamp upon
features which nature had made none too
attractive. How any woman OF Caucasian
race could have 80 shut her eyes as to give
herself TO such man, was in itself,
amazing but the amazcment became as
founding when it was creditably re-
ported that Col. lIumby's second wife
was young and charming well bred and
rich. The feminine portion OF Jullabad
We're pale with womanly indignation. The
unmarried men developed kind OF mad
ness-eyen the married men caught it; for
II was only human nature in revolt against
an outrage. There was drinking at the
messcs and assemby-rooms such us no one
remembered before, and play seemed
literally reckless. Everybody knew Col.
Humby; and it was monstrous that he
should have got a wife 80 young and 50
charming, so well bred and 50 rich, as
this second bride was reported 10 be.
But, although the indignation Of julia
bad was both loud and deep, the pity OF
IL was that which was deeper still, and
nbout which no tongue spoke. The late
nlis. liumby was not beautiful woman
Or n social figure of any degree; people saw
very little OF her; but they knew she had
chung to her husband with an i'll requited
fidelity, which had helped him upward for
life, and more than once saved him from
death itself-that she had lived a slave
and had died from brutality, as her re-
ward. Everybody knew this, and that
Col. llumby was q murderer whom the
law had no power 10 touch. As soon
rs he buried his wife he started
off 10 Europe on n years furlough;
and now he was bringing back, inside Of
nine months, this second wiie-the only
child and heiress OF a millionaire! As has
been said wrath and indignation against
the man were loud on every tongue; for
the ill-siarred bride there was deep pity.
Jullabad knew nothing concerning the
second Mrs. Humby, except that she was
an American by birth, not English-until
an officer in the Southwold Fusilicrs, who
had once met her, supplied few further
particulars. Her father had made fortune
In the West Indian trade. Lieut.. Everest
had made her acquaintance n couple OF
years ago at McntOnc, where they were
staying ON account OF the old gentleman
health. All the charms OF youth and
beauty and innocence aud amiability were
embodied in the American maiden.
Intcrrogted To account for her accept
ing Col. lIumby for a husband, Lieut..
Everest was dumb--it was unaccouniablc,
and the contemplation Of the fact made
him, who had seen her, look like man
who hal been ravishcd OF his own bride
on the very steps OF the altar.
Col. lluinby and his bride were in is
midst before Jullabad became aware Of the
facts. No preparation OF any kind had
been made at the colonefs bungalow, the
colonel himself, presumably, regarding
such preparations rs unnecessary; ~ that
the second Mrs. Humby found the place
exactly rs the FIRST Mrs. Humby had left il
even 10 the details Of the lajters slip
per and dresses. which still occupied Their
accustomed places. The iirst time Col
Uumby was seen after his return his face
famed with brandy, as OF old; but none an
ticipnicd otherwise. OF Mrs. ilumby, Jul.
labad could not get single glimpse. The
colonel never went 20 church, and very
likely refused TO let her 60; nt all events,
when two SUNDAYS had passed, and Mrs.
uumby did not appear, Mrs. Col. Speedy,
sitting in council over . O'Clock tea In
her ycrinda, dccrced that she herself and
four other ladies OF lesser degree should
''call on" the poor bride, In due order o
prcccdcnce, and bring all the social bat
fnry Of the station 10 her relief 80, one
after another they called, aud were r.
Cciyed timidly and gratefully by the
young wife. BUT their calls were not re-
turned. Sometimes in the early morning
Mrs. llumhy was passed on her pony IN
.he partially reclaimed tract OF jungl,
which was dignihcd with the name d
i'Ihe Park; sometimes she was sitting
plone in the ycunda reading or sewing
or wandering about in the garden in ia,
late evening. but she was ~ isolated from
NIL intercourse with human bcings-cXccp
her native servants 90 II her husband
bungalow were zcnana.
In this matter Col. Ilumby was 90,
strong for Jullabad. lie cared nothing lol
society in the station which, indeed, h,
had long ago provoked and deficd 10 hil
utmost, No that he could add little more &
his unpopularity now; and he was hii
pife's lord aud master. For what people
said lac lid not care; he required his wit
90 obey his will, and 10 hold no communi
cationwith Others save with his permission
and in his presence; and as, under thl
condition OF Col. llumby's presence, n,
one desired any communication with Ms
llumby, the result was her complete
isolation.
IL was in February Col. llumby brough
his wife To- Jullabad, and by tho time tina
people began 20 prepare for tie unnua
migration 30 the hills-in thc early day
OF April the circumstances OF Mr.
lIumby had grown 10 be accepted "a ~
establishcd fact about which II was usClcs
90 talk amy longer. In the stir OF mOyin
10 the hills she was iOr time forgotten
Ithcria. the hill station which pgrtaincD
10 Jullabai, only fifty miles Oft, WI
n very delightful place, and famous ~
It's "plce.T 10 that for a couple q
months Measure rcigncd paramount In tina
bracing and wicked altitude. About thi
fine. however. men who had been left y
hind ON the hot plains tor duty began 6
turn up. exhausted, for their Fix week.
leave. and these brought strange rumoI
with them. Colonel llumby was kcepin
his Young wife on the plains for the hC
season? This was inhuman enough; bu
other stories hoatcd about ON the air
stories spokcn in whispers. The man va
drinking heavily and using the poor chill
cruelty.
Among the officers who were Obliged
rcmain In Jullabad for the necessary di
charge of military duties was Lieut.. Eve
est. Of the Fusilicn, already mcnuonc,
Three other officers Of his corps RENAME,
and from the vcranda Of their mess bung
low there was view Of the compound
belonging TO the bungalow Of Col. Humb!
Being imprisoned within doors for ten {
twelve hours OF the blazing day, they N
smoking and talking in their yeranda.
or some distance out In the opcn-up
% .f,1..L la t,a ,,nrtiing DIR